Starting to feel the winter blues? Lucky for us, spring is right around the corner, which means white wide-leg pants, cute sandals, lightweight wraparound tops, and flowers everywhere! Before you know it, you’ll be able to pack away your heavy winter attire and fill your wardrobe with fun, bright, spring fashion.

As any fashionista would know, you simply can’t expect to prepare your closet for spring without a pair of white pants. As the foundation for any spring wardrobe, white pants fashion allows you to put together various different outfits and numerous looks with the simple change of accessories, shoes, and a blouse. Without having to spend a fortune to go from a day to night look, your white wide leg pants can carry you through spring with ease.

However, knowing how to wear white wide-leg pants may not be as easy as you think. Apart from the obvious tongue twister, white wide leg pants can either look classy or simply a little bit tacky if you’re unsure of the unspoken rules.

Thus, always keep the following guidelines in mind when wearing white wide-leg pants.

Go nude:

Choosing undergarments could make or break your entire outfit. Thinking that white goes with white always ends up being the biggest mistake. Sure enough, by wearing white undergarments, your outfit will remain white, but you’ll be able to notice your underwear underneath your pants. Always choose nude undergarments when wearing white pants. Not only will nothing show through, you can also wear nude panties with any other outfit without showing evidence of wearing panties.

Don’t go too tight:

White pants should never be chosen too tight. Remember, white is pretty unforgiving, especially if you have a little bit of extra weight on your thighs and upper legs. Wearing super tight white pants will end up showing every detail of your unwanted areas. Instead, choose white pants that are easy to try on without having to suck anything in. You’ll thank us for it.

Choose stretch:

Comfort is always key, which is why you can’t go wrong with stretchy pants. Even if there’s a slight stretch in your white wide leg pants, you’ll end up being able to move around more freely and comfortably without pulling and tugging and creating dents where there shouldn’t be any.

Opt for the correct length:

Always, but always choose white wide leg pants according to your height. Since white pants can either look extremely classy and sophisticated, they can also look tacky and messy quite easily if you choose the wrong length. Remember, knowing how to wear white wide leg pants has plenty to do with the lack of white material sweeping on the floor as you move.

Avoid all white:

Sure, white is classic and can look refreshing, but all white has the potential of washing you out if you have fair skin. Instead, pair your white wide leg pants with a bold, pattern top to break the whiteness and add a little bit of color to your entire look.

That being said, there are numerous ways in which you can wear white wide-leg pants, accompanying them with various patterned blouses and colors, shoes, and even much-needed accessories. Try the following 10 ways to wear white wide leg pants in order to transform ordinary white pants into a versatile and affordable fashion item:

Since your white wide leg pants can be the foundation for any type of look, adding a floral kimono seems like one of the best ideas we’ve ever had! Not only does it provide the layering look by wearing a color matching top underneath, it also provides extra warmth on cooler spring days. The soft lightweight fabric allows you to move around freely and the florals add to the trend of the season. Featuring ¾ sleeves, it’s a must-have for any woman’s closet!

Besides, taking into consideration that you can wear a kimono in various different ways, you don’t necessarily have to pack it away when spring season is over.

White wide leg pants can be accompanied by various shoe styles, depending on the weather and your mood, of course. That being said, these booties in brown go excellent with white wide leg pants, adding a little bit of color to your entire look and providing a different texture in order to build the rest of your look successfully. Rocking a tall heel and interesting detail, they’re completely in demand and shouldn’t be underestimated for their ability to add extra confidence to your persona.

The casual sweater look allows for more of a dressed down look when accompanied by white wide-leg pants, not to mention the added unique detail which will make your entire look stand out. Remember, sweaters don’t have to resonate an old-fashioned look. With an abundance of modern style sweaters available, you’re bound to stay warm on cooler spring days without making it seem as if you’re wearing a grandma sweater.

Taking into consideration the super soft ribbed fabric, this particular tone adds that extra bit of color needed to bring your white wide-leg pants to life. Can also be worn with a sexy bralette or adhesive bra.

Add a little bit of flare and dress your white wide leg pants up a tiny bit with a stripe ruffle top in blue. Taking into consideration that the stripes run vertically instead of horizontal, this particular blouse allows your torso to look elongated and your waist smaller. Any other way and you may end up adding extra pounds that aren’t necessarily there.

As a great fit for any shape, the ruffles add a sense of cuteness whilst hiding certain aspects of your figure that you may not want to reveal. Proudly made in the USA from 100% cotton, you’re able to easily transition into spring with a blue and white stripe top to accompany your white wide-leg pants.

Why not spruce up your white wide leg pants by going bohemian? Although white pants can look classic and sophisticated, you can also dress it down by adding boho accessories to your look. This particular statement necklace in turquoise and silver sets the color palette for the rest of your outfit choice. Yes, it’s big and bold, but you’ll be the talk of the town. It’s a must-have for any woman’s jewelry collection and can be worn with various different outfits, especially white pants and a matching blouse.

Remember, it’s the added details that make your outfit memorable and one of a kind. Besides, how can you resist?

Wearing white wide leg pants may not be the obvious choice, but by accompanying it with a classic and sophisticated blouse, you can easily dress it up to fit more in with the corporate look. Made from polyester and spandex in the USA, this particular stripe surplice crop top in red, black, and white stripes allows for a comfortable fit. Although not a low cleavage, you’re able to flaunt your femininity and accentuate your best assets.

At the end of the day, wearing a high-quality blouse will automatically dress up your white wide leg pants without having to make drastic changes to your look.

Although you get the corporate look that should be part of any woman’s closet, there’s also the dressed up date night look that can be worn for various occasions. By matching black and white, you’re able to flaunt a classic look and style that has been around since before Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. With a flattering fit and classic detail to show off your collarbone, this particular look can be worn day or night. The high neck detail and open back allow for a unique look to accompany your white wide leg pants in order to show off your best assets.

Besides, when it comes to white wide leg pants for ladies, you can’t go wrong with a classic black blouse to complete the look.

Why not try a slip on when choosing the perfect shoes for your white wide-leg pants? Flaunting a high heel and a suede feel, these particular shoes can dress up any pair of white pants – to some extent. Remember, when it comes to choosing shoes, you want to ensure that they’re comfortable to walk in. There’s nothing worse than finding the perfect pair of shoes but not being able to wear them due to blisters caused by your dream shoes. Luckily, these high heel suede shoes are perfect for comfort and aesthetics.

Although there are times when you want to dress up your white wide leg pants, you don’t always have to put in extra effort to look put together. White wide leg pants can easily look fashionable with simple slip-on shoes.

There’s simply no better way to spend your weekend than by wearing a sexy, off-the-shoulder ruffle top that shows off your belly and collarbone. Available in purple, this top is absolutely adorable and matches any white pants perfectly! Although your entire look still screams ‘fresh’ and fun, you’re also able to add a little bit of sex appeal and casualness without having to go all out. The ruffles hide any unwanted areas whilst flaunting and accentuating your best assets.

It’s a great way to dress down your white wide leg pants without going completely casual, making it an easy transition from the beach to the mall. Add a pair of matching earrings and a few bangles and you’re all set. Remember, fun, flirty, with a few ruffles here and there make for the perfect white pants outfit for ladies this spring.

We’re absolutely in love with this piece! Not only because it perfectly matches any pair of white wide leg pants, but it’s sexy and cute all on its own, especially in pink. As an off-the-shoulder tunic right above the knee, you’re able to comfortable hide any unwanted areas without losing your edge. It’s a great piece to add to your closet, especially when transitioning from winter to spring. Not to mention the fact that your white wide leg pants automatically become the focus of attention when accompanied by a flattering pink.

This allows you to wear your white pants casually or as the perfect date night outfit. Your undergarment choice should be a strapless bra.

Taking into consideration the above-mentioned ideas on how to wear white wide pants, you simply can’t deny yourself the treat of adding a pair of our Good Fortune High Waist Flare Leg Pants in white to your wardrobe. The fashion possibilities are endless, you don’t have to spend a fortune putting together different looks, and you’re able to easily transition into spring with a simple pair of white pants.

Flaunting a flattering high waist, soft fabric, a flare design, somewhat stretchy fabric, and a convenient zipper in the back, why not treat yourself to one of the most versatile and comfortable additions you’ll ever add to your closet?

With summer in full swing, it’s about time to pull out your flip flops, crank up the music, and enjoy a blissful summer full of eventful activities; including a good ol’ concert. Of course, you can’t expect to enjoy the full effects of a summer concert without all the right ingredients to make it a day to remember. However, knowing what to wear in order to remain comfortable, yet stylish can be somewhat tricky. As much as you’d like to stay on top of the latest trends, it’s also important to stay within your allocated budget.

In order to make the decision-making process as pain-free as possible, we’ve decided to offer a few helpful tips on how to dress for a summer concert.

Ready?

Tip #1: Wear white

Not only will it give you the opportunity to stay cool during the hot summer concert days, you’ll also feel “fresh”, light, and somewhat boho-chic if you choose to wear or incorporate a white clothing piece in your overall look. Whether you choose to wear a white maxi dress, shorts, or even a white blouse to accompany your jeans, you’ll definitely be in with the crowds this summer.

Tip #2: Don’t forget your hat

Things may get hot during a summer concert, and the last thing you want is a red face after the fact, thus your trusted hat is one of the most important things to remember when trying to figure out what to wear to a summer concert. However, just any old hat won’t do, oh no. You have to ensure that it actually covers your face and neck in order to carry the full effect. You also can’t forget the style factor that has to accompany your chosen head accessory.

Tip #3: Remember your flats

As much as you’d like to show off your sexy calves and strut your stuff, it’s important to remember that you’re going to be standing on your feet for hours on end. Thus, you’re going to need shoes which are not only comfortable, but will match your entire concert look. Whether you choose to wear sandals or sneakers, ensure that they “speak your language” in order to tie your whole outfit together.

Tip #4: Match your undergarments

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when wearing white is not wearing underwear which actually blends in with your outfit. It may seem obvious, but you should never wear panties of color if you’re wearing a white dress or pants. You may even be surprised at the fact that you should wear white undergarments. They may match your outfit, but you’ll still be able to see what’s going on underneath your clothes. Instead, wear tones which represent your skin color. You wouldn’t even be able to tell that you’re wearing panties.

Tip #5: Never forget your sunnies

It’s highly important to choose the correct sunglasses as the wrong shape can completely ruin your whole look; not to mention the structure of your face. When choosing sunglasses, remember to pick something that allows your eyebrows to show. If not, your face will lack structure when wearing your sunnies which will make it seem as if your forehead forms part of the lower part of your face. Besides, you work hard trying to make your eyebrows look amazing. Don’t let a pair of sunglasses stand in the way of that.

Tip #6: Use an over the shoulder bag

As a fashion-forward woman and someone who enjoys carrying around some lip balm, sunglasses, money, and pretty much the rest of the house, it’s important to choose a handbag that’s going to be comfortable and easy to handle; especially when attending a summer concert. Thus, an over the shoulder bag will be perfect for moments when you want to enjoy the music and ensure that your handbag stays with you at all times.

Tip #7: Pack a light cardigan

Taking into consideration the weather we’ve been having lately, you never know when a perfectly fine summer day will turn into a cold, miserable afternoon. Which means you can never be too prepared. If you plan on wearing something quite light and breezy to a summer concert, be sure to pack a warm cardigan for those moments when you start freezing your butt off. Rather be prepared; unless you’re going to the concert with a nice guy who’s willing to offer his jacket when things get a little cold.

Tip #8: Pair your outfit with stylish accessories

Of course, no outfit is fully complete without matching accessories; ranging between delicate and fine pieces to bold and beautiful Bohemian-style necklaces and bracelets. Don’t be afraid to mix and match, but be sure that you stick with your color theme in order to avoid looking like a rainbow on a mission.

Tip #9: Consider wearing a romper

Rompers are taking over, so why not be part of the movement? With so many different styles and colors to choose from, you’re bound to find something you absolutely adore! Depending on your body shape, be sure to choose the lines or patterns well and always know which colors make your skin tone pop and which you should stay clear of. Match your chosen romper with a pretty pair of sandals and you’re ready to go!

Tip #10: Incorporate the florals

Since it is summer, you simply can’t go without adding a few florals to your wardrobe. What better time to do that than a summer concert, right? Whether you choose delicate florals with small prints or decide to go bright and bold with flowers in all the right spots, it’s important to remember that you deserve to feel like a flower child every once in a while. Flaunt your florals like you never have before and have a blast at your summer concert!

At Lotus Online Boutique, we offer a range of young, flirtatious, fashion items and accessories for the fashion-forward woman and festival goer in mind. Why spend a fortune on your favorite clothing items when you can find just about anything your heart desires at a reasonable price?

Do you find shopping, in general, to be quite exhausting and tedious? Perhaps you simply can’t get enough of it! Whatever your reason for wanting to shop online, it’s always a great idea if you’re able to do so without having to break the bank, right?

At Lotus Online Boutique, we’re able to offer affordable women’s fashion in order to give you the opportunity to shop to your heart’s content; making it possible for you to rock various different outfits and accessories on a simple budget.

Depending on what it is that you’re looking for, we thought it would be quite fitting to offer 7 different online boutique must visit options in order to give you a wide variety of shopping choices.

“Our little family started this business in our tiny apartment in 2012 with $300. We started the business committed to provide the best customer service, low pricing and great quality. Today we are proud to continue providing our customers with those standards and more. We are committed to giving back through each purchase, with our H&O foundation we are able to give back to organizations locally and worldwide!

“I am an artist in every expression of the word and I am not complete unless I am in a creative environment. The Red Dress Boutique was born from a need of creative expression on a larger scale…and www.reddressboutique.com, to push that creativity even further.”

"I will not go where the path may lead. I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail."-Strode

We are a family run business based out of a tourist town called Coeur D Alene, Idaho. Many of the photos you see are of the beautiful North West! We have 3 beautiful boys who are very enthusiastic about our company. The oldest is in the Navy, one has graduated High School and the other will be a Freshman in High School in 2015.

“Filly Flair is a large Women's online retailer that started with small humble beginnings. Our warehouse is located in Baltic, South Dakota with one retail location located in Sioux Falls.

Hi, and thanks so much for stopping by our online boutique! My name is Laura Benson and I am the owner of Filly Flair! I am a Jesus Lover, wife, and mother to two amazing kids.

I started Filly Flair back in 2010 out of my basement as a single gal, with a dream and a vision to make something amazing out of virtually nothing. Fast forward a few years later, and we have a huge warehouse, over 20 employees, and have shipped hundreds of thousands of orders to our amazing customers.

Raised on farm, I have always had a strong set of values instilled in me along with a crazy hard work ethic. My faith and family will always come first, but after that is my love for this business and bringing fun fashion to amazing women. As a wife and mother, I understand the need to be comfortable and have clothes that you can wear while chasing kids around, but still wanting to look stylish!

Filly Flair was created to help every women feel beautiful in her own skin.

“All about that new? We got you girl. PrettyLittleThing.us is your one-stop shop for trend led women's clothing at seriously killer prices. Whether you want the freshest threads straight off the runway, or to steal the style of your fave celeb muse of the moment, at PrettyLittleThing USA we've got you covered with everything you need to keep your style on-point. When it comes to serving you the latest dose of women's fashion, we've got hundreds of new product dropping daily for everything your #OOTD needs. This is fast fashion accelerated. Too well dressed to stress? Now you are.”

“Since we opened our first brick-and-mortar store in 2005, Lotus Boutique has grown from a one location boutique to a thriving company serving the Southeast. We currently have eight brick-and-mortar store locations owned and operated by Lotus Stores, Inc. It is our desire to be one of the web's most fun and easy shopping experiences. We offer trendy, carefully curated merchandise sure to inspire you to enjoy this world of a runway we live on! We are the best women's online clothing boutique located in the deep south. But we are not just a southern boutique, most of our customers are from the East Coast and the Midwest. We serve many niches so if you are feeling preppy, we got you! If your mood is more boho or indie fashion, we have that covered too! Do you need a great dress for sorority rush wear? We will provide! Festival goers, we have great unique pieces to have you dancing for joy! Our store prides itself of being a boutique that can provide a shopping place for mom and daughter alike!

Our brands consist of an array of emerging new designers, and our buyers search all over the continent to provide you with fashion that you will want to call YOURS! We receive new shipments DAILY and upload them almost immediately. Our stock moves quickly, however, so don't hesitate to order to your heart's content! We are your source for the latest trends in women's fashion!”

With so many online clothing boutiques around, it’s important to be able to stand out from the crowds by offering unique fashion items and accessories; allowing your customers to make fashion statements wherever they wish to go. However, at Lotus Online Boutique, we’re more than just an online store offering fashionable clothing pieces for those who want to feel beautiful. We’d like to believe that, regardless of what it is that you’re searching for, that you’ll find the perfect piece to represent your personality to a T. In fact, we’d like to believe that you see us as a cute boutique simply for the fashion items we choose to display in our online store.

Our beaded bracelets are more than just fashion accessories to pair with your favorite outfit. Showcasing this particular bead knot bracelet with a boho feel, you can easily add that special touch to your look by ensuring that your chosen fashion style for the day has an element of cuteness. It’s a one size fits all by fastening the bracelet with the string to ensure that anyone can enjoy a little piece of Lotus Online Boutique.

As any fashion-forward woman would know, it’s essential to have an expensive watch, a pair of sexy heels, and stylish sunglasses which can be paired with practically any outfit. Which is why you can’t go wrong with our Bright Rays Cat Eye Shades made for the fashion-forward woman in mind. Not only does it add an element of sophistication, there’s also an enormous possibility that you’ll look adorable!

Is it sexy? Yes. Is it a cute piece to have in your closet for short-notice date nights? Definitely! Our Stunning In My Bodycon Dress adds an element of cuteness simply for the fact that it’s available in a blush color. Paired with sexy heels and stunning fashion accessories, you’ll be the talk of the town for looking both delicious and adorable.

When we refer to cute clothing items, we simply can’t ignore our Lace In Love Dress available in purple. Not only is lace extremely fashionable, it adds an element of softness and boho-chic to your closet that you may never have experienced before. Besides, with summer rolling around, it’s one of those fashion items that we can’t help but proudly display and one of the must-have items for your summer wardrobe.

With delicate beading and soft shades of neutral tones, our beauty In Tassel Earrings will melt any woman’s heart. Not only can you pair it comfortably with any type of outfit; whether you’re going for the fun beach look or need to add some sparkle to your evening outfit, it’s all about adding a little bit of detail. As far as cuteness is concerned, you’re definitely well on your way to spicing up your look with our cute tassel earrings.

What completes an outfit more accurately than a pretty necklace? Our At Its Best Druzy Necklace is a unique fashion statement made to draw attention to the more feminine part of your body. It’s cute. It’s definitely sparkly. Most importantly, it’s made for the fashion-forward woman who wants to add a unique fashion accessory in order to complete her look.

Just because it’s sexy, doesn’t mean it can’t be cute at the same time, right? Show off your shoulders with this Show It Off Shoulder Crop Top in white; perfect for those who need something cute and unique in their closet without breaking the bank! Apart from the fact that you can match it with shorts or a sexy skirt, it’s one of our most interesting clothing pieces which qualifies us a cute boutique.

Apart from the fact that a shift dress, in general, is quite cute, add a few cacti to the mix and you’re set! Only showing a little bit of leg, this particular dress can be worn by just about anyone; whether you have a little bit of a tummy you’d like to hide or you’d like to add some form to your body type. Remember, you simply can’t go wrong with a white shift dress for summer.

If you like what you see, remember, we have plenty more where that came from! At Lotus Online Boutique, our style ranges anything from sophisticated to casual, bohemian to classic, and everything in between; not to mention cute. At the end of the day, we’re all about making you look amazing and feel confident in your own skin; accompanied by our cute boutique outfits.

You are an extremely passionate person with a love for fashion. Whether you grew up dressing Barbie dolls to becoming your friend’s personal stylist or recently gained a new love for clothes and accessories, you aspire to live your dream of opening your own boutique one day. But how do you make your dream come true? This is where many of us get stuck. Life throws you curveballs and you have to decide to swing your bat, with a chance you’ll strike, or wait for a better pitch; both have a possibility of succeeding or failing and you aren’t guaranteed success either way. Change can be scary, but that’s why you always need a little help from your friends! This is where we come in. Lotus Boutique emerged from the same dream and our journey from deciding to swing the bat to where we are now can be summed up as one incredible rollercoaster ride full of loops, downs and lots of ups! We want to empower you to start your journey of following your dream and opening your own boutique; lucky enough, we’ve already been there and can help you get started! We’ve taken our experiences and everything we have learned and put together a guide full of tips and tricks to help you along the way. Think of us as your confidant; we are here to make sure you enjoy the process and get you going in the right direction!

You’ve been asking yourself, “So how do I get started? What am I getting myself into here?” Let me start by giving you an overview of the process to help your mindset. Before you even begin the process of opening a boutique, you must have a vision. You might be passionate about many things such as fashion, food, traveling, but what area of concentration will your business be about? Selecting one genre is step one. A boutique must clarify a specific concept easy for the customer to identify with. Women’s fashion, men’s fashion, home décor, art, whatever passion you want to concentrate on. Step two is the most important step of all: conceptualize your vision and break it down into a business plan-think big picture to small picture. Narrow down your genre into product categories that align with your target customer. Basically, what products will you sell and to who? Determining what product will generate the highest profitability falls hand-in-hand with your boutique location that demographically corresponds with your target customer. Sounds like a circle of confusion- where do you even begin? One word-research. You have to “dot your i’s and cross your t’s” to ensure your business plan is supported with statistical data and factual information. Determine your niche in the marketplace by focusing on fulfilling a community need or meeting a high demand. Give your boutique meaning by correlating a relevant name & logo with your company’s mission statement. Everything your brand is about needs to have a meaning behind it. Your overall goal here is to figure out exactly how to execute your vision throughout your business that differentiates you from everyone else where customers’ will want to shop your product and ultimately generate profit. Think about it- you’re stepping into the business world where you will be competing with so many others, what will make your business any different? When presenting your business plan to negotiate a lease, you are basically trying to prove why they should invest in you. Just like if you were a contestant on an episode of ABC’s Shark Tank! You know the show where people have to present their business ideas in means of getting the “sharks” (show hosts) to invest in them? Yep that’s the one! Although this example is more extreme and pressure-oriented, hopefully it helps put things in perspective. As you develop your business plan Talk about a web of complexity! Who, what, when, where, and why are questions to ask yourself about each decision you make in the process. It’s like fitting pieces of the puzzle together to give you the answer of ‘how to’. Let’s get started!

PRODUCT

WHO: As great as it would be to offer a little bit of everything, you have to think in terms of the customer: who is your customer? What are their wants and needs? Is there an age range driving the retail business demand or an age gap suffering from lack of options? Be strategic on selecting your target market. If you did your research, you should know your area of opportunity. If you are jumping into a saturated market for example, means you should focus more so on differentiating yourself from the competition. The products you carry need to back up your brand, so customers have a clear sense of who you are as a boutique and choose you over anyone else every time.

WHAT: You’re opening a boutique because you are passionate about fashion right? What specifically are you passionate about? If you’re anything like us, you love every trendy style women’s fashion has to offer from top runway looks to edgy street wear, bohemian feels to cocktail dresses, oh and don’t forget accessories! Maybe you love baby fashion and you can’t have a stylish baby lifestyle without a line of trendy blankets and diaper bags. Whatever your passion, you have to think realistically and narrow down your product range. Since you’ve determined your target customer, you can more easily select specific product geared towards their needs. You must be careful about offering too much because the broader your product range, the bigger your inventory will be. Don’t forget you have to provide options too! And all this product needs to turn around and produce a profit. A clear message, straightforward selection of product with a few options is the most balanced formula in yielding a higher profit.

WHEN: Something to think about when coming up with a product selection is when the customer will be looking for certain product. Tangibility of your product assortment is very important to cater to your customer needs throughout the year. Forecasting upcoming trends or events per season of the year is key to success. Remember beanie babies? Who doesn’t still have an attic full of them... limited edition, tags attached and all? Because I sure do. Boy those retailers who quickly caught onto that trend hit the jackpot! But timing is key. If you spent all your funds allotted to buying a big shipment of beanie babies and get your shipment in just as the fad ends, you are now stuck with a full inventory you can’t sell and no profit coming in to buy anything else. Oh it pains me to even think about such a situation.

WHERE: Now the fun part- shopping! You have to buy your goods somewhere, and going to market is pretty awesome! I definitely suggest physically going to market at the beginning and periodically throughout your career. Once you visit a few different markets, you will most likely establish some great relationships with vendors and that partnership is an advantage you can’t gain shopping online. Wholesale is everywhere and online of course is the quickest and easiest way to buy product. Establish your company’s buying budget, negotiate as much as possible, and ensure you are obtaining great product that your customer will love!

WHY: From here, you have the stage set to determine your product cost to price margins and enter into your inventory. There is a reason for everything we do and ultimately want to provide the best product to our customer that will sell and yield a profit to keep this process going in addition to financially growing your business.

LOCATION

WHO: When determine the location of your store, you need to find an area with the highest concentration of your target customer. Whether you are determining the state, city, or local mall you want to open in, the process is the same. Research the demographics of the area(s) you’re considering to figure out where your boutique concept will fit in best and succeed. It’s always all about the customer.

WHAT: What type of store structure are you considering? Do you want to be in a free standing structure, a tenant in an indoor or outdoor mall, or integrated with/within a preexisting building or business? This part is best done best when you enlist assistance from a broker, attorney, CPA or other professionals to ensure you aren’t getting taken advantage of in any way. Always outsource additional information before securing/negotiating a deal or signing a lease.

WHEN: Time of year affects things a little bit, but getting in on a new establishment as it’s being build or waiting for your ideal space is best case scenario. Do your research, network and know your area inside and out. Waiting for the prime time will optimize your opening success.

WHERE: Shop your competitors. Know the businesses that are similar to you or carry like product. This will help you determine where your store location should be in a shopping center. It helps being near similar businesses because customers will turn that area into a shopping destination. So if they are going to shop from another store, they will most likely visit yours and the other few in that area. If you are too similar and too close to another boutique, customers will mentally link you together as the same. They will assume you always having the same product and if they have a bad experience at one store, they will assume your store will provide the same negative experience. If you are a stand-alone boutique and are purely a destination store, being close to a community where many of your target customers live and go out to eat is a good idea.

WHY: Going through all this research trouble yields one purpose: to guarantee your chance of business survival. So many businesses fail and the last thing you want to do is go through all this hard work to ultimately close your doors. Establishing your niche in the community secures your boutique’s foundation from the start.

BRANDING

WHO: [In my Saturday night game show introduction voice] Let’s play “Name that Brand!” Yes this is the first thing that comes into mind when thinking about branding. If a game show were to show participants pictures of the inside or outside of your boutique with no name, or a grouping of relative items or visuals in your space, would be able to identify this picture with your store? You need to make sure they could! Every aspect of your store needs to represent your store’s vision. Giving your boutique a great name, something individualistic but not too out there or random, that ties together the meaning of who you are and what you represent is important; same goes with your logo. How will you stand out from the rest? A name gives you a meaning, a meaning gives you purpose, a purpose gives you leverage, and leverage gives you an advantage. So as much as you want to name your boutique after your favorite pet, you really need to put some thought into your name and how it is perceived in the marketing world.

WHAT: What really goes into branding anyway? Advertising and marketing your boutique comes in many forms, and whatever methods you choose should focus on the goal of getting your name out there. Customer experience and word of mouth are by far the most important and easily done since both are free!

WHEN: Getting yourself known quickly is what you’re striving for here. ASAP folks!

WHERE: Venture social media avenues, utilize any sources available to you through your mall or community, but whatever you do, make sure you are cultivating a positive image. Get your friends and family to get the buzz going around schools, daycares, workout centers, work places, anywhere and everywhere! Get everyone just as hyped up as you are about the new boutique in town!

WHY: You want to generate a customer following to basically keep yourself in business. But with the many boutiques out there, it’s important to advertise yourself; otherwise, no one will know you exist. Marketing your brand gets results; don’t lag with this!

TECHNOLOGY

WHO: Technology is used in every aspect the boutique world, some more than others, but it’s the main source we use to communicate. Yep, that means it’s finally time to upgrade your iphone 4 and create your new business contact information! Being the boutique owner, you can decide how involved you will be in the store itself. Are you going to manager the store or do you plan on hiring a manager? Whatever you choose, make sure your boutique has it’s own email, phone number and contact listing in commercial location guides. You want to market your boutique as a separate entity for possible future growth.

WHAT: Basics here- phone, internet, computer, printer, stereo system/music setup, loss prevention necessities, POS (point of sale) system, and any components needed to complete a POS transaction are going to be the minimum requirements. Think in terms of operational requirements needed to run your store on a technological level daily to function.

WHEN: You will probably establish some sort of “command central” before actually opening your store; you’ve got to figure out your inventory process somehow. However, actual POS items can be installed once a location is established after construction is completed.

WHERE: What I like to call “command central” is your behind-the-scenes technology hub that functions as the heart of your business. This is usually located in an office of some sort, but you can really set it up anywhere easily accessible to you as the boutique owner. This is most likely going to be separate from the POS computer at your store since it will serve as a technological avenue for all aspects of your business (i.e. financial) containing confidential information.

WHY: During this day and age, it’s very difficult to run a business without using some form of technology. Not only is it very difficult to keep up with hand-written receipts or a notebook of inventory, but also customers expect a shop to be able to function quickly and smoothly… we have to look like we know what we’re doing! Customers also like a quick checkout, being able to call or email you with any questions as well as actually being able to talk with a real person and not an automated message. The entire retail realm revolves around technology so keeping up with the latest tech device or trend is our mission!

Phew! Hopefully you are feeling much better about our introduction from earlier. Or at the very least, the circle of confusion and web of complexity has turned into a diagram of possibilities! Let’s summarize with an example:

Concentration

Your life long love for women’s fashion is the reason you wanted to open a boutique in the first place. You already planned on filling a need in the community based off your own experience of graduating college. It was time to ditch those t-shirts and gym shorts and dress the part of a young adult in the business world. You had trouble finding a versatile selection for daily work attire that was actually cute and fashionable. Slacks, blouses, poly-blend suit jackets, nylon hose socks…need I say more? No way were you going to spend the rest of your career life dressing in those! So you want to be able to provide cuter options for the career woman not only for the office but for any profession as well as turning your daytime look into a nighttime look. Since you already found your niche in the community, you wanted to broaden your age range from early-twenties and up so it would accommodate anyone graduating at any age in life. Your target market, however, would consist of the age majority of customers that will frequent your business the most. We will say mid-twenties to forties and concentrate on product type that most appeals to them.

Product

Clothing will consist of all departments: tops, bottoms, skirts, etc. Accessories will focus only on a few departments: jewelry, shoes and handbags. You will dedicate most of your funds on clothes, so your accessories will act as smaller additions to help encourage the customer to purchase a whole outfit. Jewelry and handbags will be your largest accessory focus offering many trendy styles at all times. You are aiming for a small-scale shoe selection of about 10 options of flats, pumps or heels at all times as well. This leaves little budget left for anymore product, so you decide to stick to these categories and leave out other departments such as intimates.

Location

Your city is extremely mall-oriented and rarely see a freestanding boutique location, so you want to open in the most popular mall in your area. You partner with the property leasing agent to determine the best space location for you, near but not next to stores with similar product offerings, as well as size, how many square feet accommodate your brand best.

Branding

You’ve had your name decided early on and after all your research you have come up with a logo! You have found a printing company that will manufacture your shopping bags for a reasonable price as well as a sign company that can install your name and logo on your storefront. You created an account for your boutique on every social media site and took advantage of an advertising special to run a small add in your immediate community magazine. You created business cards and gave them to a few friends and family members to help spread the word!

Technology

You purchased everything you need for your POS system and since the back of your store is so small, you decided to rent an office/warehouse space for all of your product to be shipped to and to use as your “command central”. You figured out the most efficient way to process your inventory and entered that into your system that is will be linked to your POS at the store…cool right? You decided on just cameras as your security system and have a stereo system setup purchased too all ready to go in your space. You thought through each step of technology it will take to operate the store on a daily basis to ensure you are setup for success and are ready to start store construction!

So as you can see, the first stage in opening a boutique is all about developing your plan. This mainly consists of brainstorming, researching, conceptualizing and basic planning in order to form a solid foundation to build on. Once your business plan is completed in its entirety, you can do anything from here! Refocus your mindset to being confident and selling your brand! You must stay positive no matter what! Are you having a difficult time finding an affordable space or coming up with the initial funds to get you started? Your computer crashes and you lose all your inventory information or a property agent turns you down? Oh those curveballs will come. Expect them, embrace them and don’t let them take you down! It takes a lot of mental and physical stamina to be a boutique owner because YOU are the business. If you feel defeated, the brand suffers. So stay strong, always stay positive and remember you have friends to help you through the journey! I hope we have provided you with helpful tips to guide you and get your boutique started!